Subaru Confirms Toyota FT-86 Variant 'Toyobaru' for Geneva Auto Show 2011

[West]

Official Press Release from Subaru (FHI) indicates the Subaru FT-86 variant will debut at the 81st Geneva International Motor show. It was previously reported said the car would debut at the end of 2011 along side the Toyota FT-86 release.

Good news is the events takes place March 3rd-13th! Get ready Toyobaru fans!!

81st International Motor Show, Palexpo-Geneva, 3rd to 13th March 2011. World premieres in car industry, international car exposition

FUJI HEAVY INDUSTRIES Ltd. NEWS RELEASE

Exhibition Outline of the 81st Geneva International Motor Show

Tokyo, January 14, 2011 - Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the maker of Subaru automobiles, today announced that it will exhibit the "SUBARU IMPREZA CONCEPT" and the "Subaru Trezia" as European premieres at the 81st Geneva International Motor Show slated for March in Geneva, Switzerland (Press day: March 1 and 2; Open to the public from March 3 through 13, 2011). The "Subaru Rear-Wheel Drive Sports Car Technology Concept" will also be showcased as a world premiere.



The Subaru Impreza Concept is the first concept model to be released under Subaru's new brand strategy.
Designed to show a possible direction for future Impreza models, the concept also embodies Subaru's new brand statement "Confidence in Motion".

Expressing Subaru's brand core value of "enjoyment and peace of mind", the Subaru Impreza Concept fuses a sleek and lean form that exudes dynamism and elegance. It also features a spacious and plush four-seat interior for a safe and comfortable ride.

-Major specifications-
Length x Width x Height: 4,520 x 1,820 x 1,430 mm, Wheelbase: 2,640 mm Power Unit: New Generation Subaru Boxer engine (2.0-litre 4-cylinder Horizontally-Opposed engine) plus Lineartronic (CVT)



The Subaru Trezia represents a proposal of new value to meet the increasing demand for smaller and environmentally friendly cars in Europe. The key phrase for this product is "New Compact Smart Wagon". The model provides the benefits of the Subaru wagon-style in an overall body size of less than 4 meters in length. This touring compact car offers a string of other benefits, from the strong presence of the exterior to the highly efficient package of the roomy and quality interior and easy-to-use utility space. With CO2 emissions of 113 g/km*, the Trezia combines superior environmental friendliness and highly responsive SUBARU IMPREZA CONCEPT Subaru Trezia
driving.

A 1.3-litre petrol engine and 1.4-litre turbo diesel engine are available in the European markets.

*For the 1.4-litre turbo diesel models

-Major specifications-
Length x Width x Height: 3,995 x 1,695 x 1,595 mm, Wheelbase: 2,550 mm

Subaru Rear-Wheel Drive Sports Car Technology Concept

A Subaru rear-wheel drive sports car is currently under joint development as part of the business alliance with Toyota Motor Corporation. Based on an all-new platform, the vehicle will offer Subaru's distinctive trademark and core technology: the "Horizontally-Opposed Subaru Boxer engine". The concept embodies Subaru's established know-how in manufacturing boxer-powered passenger cars; it shows how Subaru proposes to integrate this expertise into a rear-wheel drive car to offer a new and highly enjoyable, Subaru-like driving experience. The technology concept will demonstrate how the all-new car platform makes full use of Subaru's engineering and Boxer technology.

[Terrari]

Note that this is a REAR-DRIVE Concept car, not AWD.

[scoobie]

Holy shit! 7 weeks!!!!!!

I'm actually glad it's RWD, it wouldn't make sense otherwise. It'd dominate the AWD STi space.

[ej25ti]

well ill be... 7 weeks though

[West]

Who was our Swiss board member?

$800 flight, 22 hours. OUCH. That would be a fun trip! Then turn around and go to the NY Auto show April 22nd for the FT-86...

[Nellen]

Who was our Swiss board member?

$800 flight, 22 hours. OUCH. That would be a fun trip! Then turn around and go to the NY Auto show April 22nd for the FT-86...

Present !

[Cal]

RWD Subie. Still hard to picture. Awesome though.

[West]

RWD Subie. Still hard to picture. Awesome though.

Im stoked to hear this. I was SERIOUSLY thinking the "216a" was dead. My only hopes were the spy pictures we had. I want to hibernate until the Geneva show.

[Exitspeed]

Can't wait. I wonder how many ques from the Impreza concept will carry over?

[HyperFX]

Nice we finally get to see the vehicle out of camoflauge. Very excited!

[FT-Omnom]

Id like to see it AWD, but the other half of me is excited for a RWD Subaru. I bet die hards hate the thought of it, Toyobaru drifters and such culture shock is coming mainstream.

[Terrari]

Id like to see it AWD, but the other half of me is excited for a RWD Subaru. I bet die hards hate the thought of it, Toyobaru drifters and such culture shock is coming mainstream.

RWD is good for me: simpler, lighter, less expensive.

[ProZach626]

. I bet die hards hate the thought of it, Toyobaru drifters and such culture shock is coming mainstream.

I never understood the culture battle. To me, one capable machine is just as good as another capable machine, no matter what brand is stamped on it.

[Terrari]

I never understood the culture battle. To me, one capable machine is just as good as another capable machine, no matter what brand is stamped on it.

Capable, yes; reliable, not necessairly. Most of us like Toyotas because of their reliability. And cheaper (as in Scion) means less reliable. Subaru, on the other hand, has adequate reliability and are an industry leader in Boxers and AWD.

[ProZach626]

My definition of capable includes reliability.. which is the only thing my civic si is capable of... Some brands don't have capabilty, though.

[West]

Cheap, Fast, Reliable. Pick two.



Scions are no less reliable than toyotas...

[ej25ti]

Now that I'm AWD i don't wanna go back, i do like RWD too but... esp after drivin on these crazy icy roads the past few days..
Call me a fanboy but, RWD is not what makes "a Subaru a Subaru"

[West]

Now that I'm AWD i don't wanna go back, i do like RWD too but... esp after drivin on these crazy icy roads the past few days..
Call me a fanboy but, RWD is not what makes "a Subaru a Subaru"

Nope, but RWD = 50% of what makes Subaru a Subaru.

Face it, you'd all shit bricks if Subaru released a FWD car. RWD is ok!

Just keep ur Subie and get the toyobaru for nice weather haha.

[ej25ti]

Nope, but RWD = 50% of what makes Subaru a Subaru.

hahaha i like that

[Terrari]

Cheap, Fast, Reliable. Pick two.



Scions are no less reliable than toyotas...

Fast, Reliable.

It is a fact that cutting corners to reduce costs will affect reliability. This is why Toyotas are not as reliable as before. I know because I was once a Tier 1 supplier to Toyota, and every year they wanted us to redesign parts to cut costs by a certain percentage. It caught up to them in the past few years as quality and reliability diminished. Now Toyota has to rebuild their reputation. Scion, being a lower price point product for Toyota, be definition has to be less reliable than Toyota for this reason. And since the FT-86 is being re-engineered into the FRS do not think they are adding quality and reliability to it. They are substituting cheaper parts and materials as well as de-contenting the FRS to reach their price point.

I still like Toyotas, especially ones made in Japan, as they still are more reliable than most other automobiles; just not up to their former levels.

[ryun84]

Capable, yes; reliable, not necessairly. Most of us like Toyotas because of their reliability. And cheaper (as in Scion) means less reliable. Subaru, on the other hand, has adequate reliability and are an industry leader in Boxers and AWD.

Fast, Reliable.

It is a fact that cutting corners to reduce costs will affect reliability. This is why Toyotas are not as reliable as before. I know because I was once a Tier 1 supplier to Toyota, and every year they wanted us to redesign parts to cut costs by a certain percentage. It caught up to them in the past few years as quality and reliability diminished. Now Toyota has to rebuild their reputation. Scion, being a lower price point product for Toyota, be definition has to be less reliable than Toyota for this reason. And since the FT-86 is being re-engineered into the FRS do not think they are adding quality and reliability to it. They are substituting cheaper parts and materials as well as de-contenting the FRS to reach their price point.

I still like Toyotas, especially ones made in Japan, as they still are more reliable than most other automobiles; just not up to their former levels.

Sorry, but I'd rather listen to the professionals.

Consumer Reports: 2010 Reliability scores as predictable as Asian cars are... reliable — Autoblog

It almost seems like people WANT this car to fail or something... just because it might take on the dreaded SCION badge. So juvenile.

[ej25ti]

Sorry, but I'd rather listen to the professionals.

Consumer Reports: 2010 Reliability scores as predictable as Asian cars are... reliable — Autoblog

It almost seems like people WANT this car to fail or something... just because it might take on the dreaded SCION badge. So juvenile.

Interesting how most of the American brands are above the German, damn they makin some shitty cars lol... though that doesn't stop me from wanting a 135i!

And I don't think that simply because people would rather have the car badged as a Toyota it makes them juvenile. I can say that I appreciate Nissan's choice to label the GT-R a Nissan like it should be instead of an Infiniti.

[HyperFX]

I believe ryun84 was trying to say was that as Americans, we are all about brand name and keeping up with appearences. Look at it this way, would you pay $40,000+ for a Honda, Toyota or Nissan. No we would rather spend that same amount on a Acura, Lexus, & Infiniti. Same companies just different cars. Personally, i buy a car for the heart & soul (engine & transmission) i could care less for the badge as some individuals would agree on the forum. Scion, Lexus, Toyota same thing except just add bells and whistles here and there. Im a tuner so i'd rather add my own bells and whistles. Oh ya, id rather own a car that has the name Fuji Heavy Industries, it just sounds more rugged.

[Terrari]

I believe ryun84 was trying to say was that as Americans, we are all about brand name and keeping up with appearences. Look at it this way, would you pay $40,000+ for a Honda, Toyota or Nissan. No we would rather spend that same amount on a Acura, Lexus, & Infiniti. Same companies just different cars. Personally, i buy a car for the heart & soul (engine & transmission) i could care less for the badge as some individuals would agree on the forum. Scion, Lexus, Toyota same thing except just add bells and whistles here and there. Im a tuner so i'd rather add my own bells and whistles. Oh ya, id rather own a car that has the name Fuji Heavy Industries, it just sounds more rugged.

Yeah, thanks for the translation.

I would happily buy a $40K car from any manufacturer that has a good track record, and I am not concerned how others see me.

My problem with Scion is that they sell a car, then they sell the performance parts separately and at fairly high cost. This leaves the consumer paying what amounts to a premium for a car that could have been sold with all the goodies for a modest increase over the basic car. Scion admits this when they say they are targeting the lucrative tuners aftermarket. Plus the consumer ends up with a bunch of useless parts. Don't get me wrong, I had a highly tricked out MR2SC for many years, and look for ways of improving performance on anything I buy. I do get irrigated when someone or some company tries to rip me off.

In the case of the FRS, be assured that they are stripping out good parts and replacing them with cheaper, less desirable parts thanthe FT-86 would have. How else would they reduce the cost of the vehicle? Again, Toyota admits this when they say the FT-86 is over the desired price target, and it will be sold in the US as a Scion.

[ej25ti]

I believe ryun84 was trying to say was that as Americans, we are all about brand name and keeping up with appearences. Look at it this way, would you pay $40,000+ for a Honda, Toyota or Nissan. No we would rather spend that same amount on a Acura, Lexus, & Infiniti. Same companies just different cars. Personally, i buy a car for the heart & soul (engine & transmission) i could care less for the badge as some individuals would agree on the forum. Scion, Lexus, Toyota same thing except just add bells and whistles here and there. Im a tuner so i'd rather add my own bells and whistles. Oh ya, id rather own a car that has the name Fuji Heavy Industries, it just sounds more rugged.

I understood that. I even gave a counterexample of badging down.
I debadged my Lexus to a Toyota Altezza. I don't care if people see me driving a Lexus. For me has to do more with the car itself, not the label of it.

[ryun84]

Interesting how most of the American brands are above the German, damn they makin some shitty cars lol... though that doesn't stop me from wanting a 135i!

And I don't think that simply because people would rather have the car badged as a Toyota it makes them juvenile. I can say that I appreciate Nissan's choice to label the GT-R a Nissan like it should be instead of an Infiniti.

I totally agree with you on the GT-R badging. But I seriously wonder if there would actually be LESS sales with the Infiniti badge. You know there are a lot of elitists out there that would not be caught dead in a Nissan, but might consider an Infiniti (as if having a GT-R wasn't elite enough). If the price were the same for both badges, I'd suspect that those Nissan-badge loyalists that wouldn't buy the Infiniti GT-R would cancel out any gain in sales from the wealthy, elitist Nissan-badge haters, LOL! It would be interesting to see this alternate scenario.

But back on topic... Scion: cheap? Yes. Unreliable? Definitely not (see my previous post). Will this car be badged as a Scion? Maybe. If so, will the company **** it up? I hope not! But even if it were badged as such, I trust Toyota/Scion to keep the core of this car to the specifications they promised. Will it have a cheap feel to it (e.g. interior made of crap plastic)? Maybe.

Point is, this is all speculation so let's just wait and see how things unfold. I dare to say that if it comes as a Scion with cheap materials, but is still an extremely fun, reliable car that doesn't deviate from the core specs that Toyota promised, then the majority of people will be satisfied. Not all, but most.

And yes, those Germans need to up their game. Except with the M3. Carry on.

[ej25ti]

I totally agree with you on the GT-R badging. But I seriously wonder if there would actually be LESS sales with the Infiniti badge. You know there are a lot of elitists out there that would not be caught dead in a Nissan, but might consider an Infiniti (as if having a GT-R wasn't elite enough). If the price were the same for both badges, I'd suspect that those Nissan-badge loyalists that wouldn't buy the Infiniti GT-R would cancel out any gain in sales from the wealthy, elitist Nissan-badge haters, LOL! It would be interesting to see this alternate scenario.

Yea, but I think that the people that bought a GT-R bought it more for a performance sports car, than simply because it would make a statement to own a $90k car.

Will it have a cheap feel to it (e.g. interior made of crap plastic)? Maybe.

LOL

And yes, those Germans need to up their game. Except with the M3. Carry on.

haha agreed!

[bryantb2]

hurray cant wait to see what it actually looks like

[ra23celica]

Still hard for me to come to 'grips' with a non-AWD Subaru, if its sold in Australia in will 'destroy' years of AWD brand synergy overnight....

[Cal]

^Understandable however this will help those who cannot afford and sti get into subies. The car comes off to me as a baby Sti, kind of like the rally sport to the evo.